186 things to do in and around Cary, NC on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26. Among them: Thanksgiving at Maisonette (6:30 a.m.); Turkey Leg Day-Feast on Fitness 2026 at Downtown Cary Park (7 a.m.); Operation Turkey Fayetteville 2026 at Fayetteville Chapter 82nd Airborne Division Association (7 a.m.); GRIT Turkey Trot 5K at 658 N Fayetteville (7 a.m.). Every listing links the venue's or organizer's own page it was checked against.
The GRIT Training Co. annual Turkey Trot 5K, chip timed, with a finisher medal. Runners and walkers of all ages and fitness levels welcome; no GRIT membership needed.
A free 10K fun run and walk on an out-and-back course along the Latham Park and Lake Daniel greenways in Greensboro. Participants bring a canned or dry good for Urban Ministries, and the finish includes homemade cookies.
Runs across the dates shown. Thermal Sock Drive for the Homeless Lunch Ministry: thermal socks collected in bins at each building entrance to keep neighbors warm this winter.
The largest fundraiser for a dog rescue, with a 5K and a 1M fun run on flat paved trails. Proceeds help bring in medical-need dogs, orphaned puppies and hospice cases.
A rolling 5K that starts and finishes on the TROSA campus and loops through the Lakewood neighborhoods. TROSA is a residential program helping people with substance use disorders recover, at no cost to those it serves.
A Thanksgiving Day trail run at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, with a mellow 2-mile course and tougher 5K and 10K options over roots, rocks and hills. The run ends with a slice of pie.
A 5K run or walk through historic downtown Louisburg on Thanksgiving morning, with music and costumes along the way. All proceeds go to two local food banks, Care and Share of Franklin County and The Help Center NC.
An annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot that doubles as a canned food drive for the Fayetteville Urban Ministry. There is no set distance, so runners and walkers go as far as they like.
A USATF-certified 5K on neighborhood roads in Leesville, the main fundraiser for the Murphy Scholarship at Leesville Road High School. Walkers can enjoy the roost stops along the way.
The Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K and 1M Fun Run in White Deer and Lake Benson Parks, for humans and canines, supporting help for abandoned and abused animals.
A 5K and fun run at Anderson Creek Club on Thanksgiving morning. Every registration supports a scholarship for graduating seniors in the Anderson Creek communities.
A Thanksgiving 5K and 1-mile run and walk in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with a costume contest and a team competition. Everyone gets a finisher medal, and registered participants also get free photos, shirts and live results.
The Trophy Trot 5k at Dix Park, with a race medal and a beer from Trophy Brewing Company. Proceeds go to Healing Transitions; top finishers win cash prizes.
A community cleanup now in its fourth year, held on Turkey Day with all tools supplied. Anyone 12 and older can take part, and anyone under 18 needs a guardian present.
The Cadence of Form, an exhibition of Pat Wasserboehr's sculptural practice exploring the interplay of form, space and movement, opening with a public reception and artist talk. Free.
You Are Here, ariana Farquharson's immersive exhibition at the African American Cultural Center on (geo)locating self and home in a rapidly changing post-pandemic world.
Morning storytimes and self-guided picnic-table activities for caregivers and youngsters in the Discovery Garden. Free, no registration required; parking fees apply.
A family-style Thanksgiving lunch at Clark Dining Hall for those staying on campus, with a traditional feast passed around the table and a second meal to take away.
A three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe at Raleigh's Irregardless, with choices for every appetite and dietary need. Mains run from roasted turkey breast to an heirloom carrot Wellington.
Runs across the dates shown. A half hour of science experiments and demonstrations at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, often physics and chemistry like inertia, buoyancy and electromagnetism, or natural science like beaver teeth and birds' eggs. At Windows on the World, 3rd floor of the Nature Exploration Center.
A mobile grocery store offered in partnership with Ripe for Revival, stocked with fresh food from local and regional farmers. Shoppers see suggested prices and pay what they can.
Bring your own craft night at Unlikely Professionals, or grab a kit in the shop, from paint by number to felting and theremin kits. $2 off THC and CBD drinks.